The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Biodun Oyebanji winner of the Saturday’s Ekiti governorship election.

The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Oyebode Adebowale said Oyebanji polled a total of 187,057 to win the election.

According to him, Oyebanji had certified the law and was, therefore, declared the winner.

“That I, Prof. Oyebode Adebowale, hereby satified that I am the Returning Officer of the Ekiti 2022 Governorship Election held on June 18.

“That Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of APC, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and returned,” Adebowale declared.

The INEC Returning Officer, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan, said the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Mr Segun Onib scored 82,211, to come second.

Others were the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Bisi Kolawole polled 67,457; Accord (A) scored 166; African Action Congress (AAC) 409; All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) 17 while Action Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 141 votes.

Also, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) scored 5,597; Allied Peoples Movement (APM) -290; Labour Party (LP) polled 195 votes; New Nigeria Peoles Party (NNPP) scored 529 and National Rescue Movement (NRM) 347.

The rest were Young Progressives Party (YPP)-618; All Peoples Party (APP) polled 1,980 and Zenith Labour Party,(ZLP) polled 282; Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) polled 856.

According to the INEC Returning Officer, the total numbers of registered voters were 989,224, accredited voters, 363,438, valid votes were, 351865 and voided votes were 8888.

However, the collation officer of Ekiti South West local government area, Prof. Gbolagade Jonathan said there were issues of ballot snatching at Ward 6, Units 5 and 7.

Jonathan said gunmen stormed the affected units and started shooting sporadically, when they were about to sort out the results, adding that the people ran for safety, while the gunmen carted away the ballot boxes in the process.

He explained that the two affected units had a total of 266 and 128 accredited voters, respectively.